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Vol 5 Chapter 1: Hitori Gotoh’s Nervousness
🕑 Added 2025-06-08 07:49:07 +0000 UTCSummer break was already halfway over.
But this year's heat was clearly far worse than usual. Even though it was already August, deep into midsummer, there were still no signs of cooling down. Just walking outside felt like being slow-cooked alive by the rising temperature. The sun blazed so fiercely in the sky that even the clouds seemed to keep their distance.
1:00 PM.
Basically hell on earth.
"So hot… even standing still is unbearable."
If he had the choice, Kazami Haru definitely wouldn't have gone outside today.
But today, everyone in Kessoku Band was meeting at the Gotoh residence for a "meeting." The topic, of course, was their upcoming Live at the Summer Fireworks Festival.
Because today's meetup wasn't at the usual STARRY café but at Gotoh's house, Haru had gone out of his way to bring some thoughtful gifts. He was already half-delirious from the heat just walking over.
Thankfully, one of the simulation perks he'd acquired was the Endurance skill, which also seemed to provide a little resistance to heat.
But recently, he'd noticed a new issue with the simulator.
"No new simulation targets…!"
[Available simulation targets: Hitori Gotoh, Ryo Yamada, Nijika Ijichi, Ikuyo Kita, Takamatsu Tomori, Soyo Nagasaki, Anon Chihaya, Sakiko Togawa…]
After finishing the 96-point simulation with Nagasaki Soyo, Haru had expected the system to unlock a new simulation target, just like it had before.
Normally, as long as Haru made contact with a suitable girl, the system would automatically add her as a new simulation candidate.
It started with Ikuyo Kita. Then Chihaya Anon…
Every time a simulation ended, someone new would be added. But this time, after Soyo's simulation, there was nothing.
"Last time I got pretty close to Sumika-san. Then I also ran into Taki and Raana. By any logic, at least one of them should've qualified as a new sim target. So why isn't the system responding at all…?"
"What's going on?"
He'd been puzzling over this lately but hadn't come up with any real answers.
The simulator felt like some kind of unresponsive piece of non-recyclable plastic. No matter how much he poked or asked, it remained completely silent.
Meanwhile, the MyGO side hadn't planned any new Lives for now. Taki said they'd regroup after school started. The rest of summer would be for individual practice and rest. Occasionally, he'd still call everyone to RiNG to check on progress.
Although that was the official line, Haru could tell this was Taki being considerate.
Haru already had his hands full prepping for Kessoku Band's Fireworks Festival Live. If he had to handle another MyGO show on top of that, he'd probably end up running back and forth non-stop. And everyone knew he also had to work part-time just to make ends meet.
That's likely why Taki, who was normally so pushy about progress, decided to ease up.
"Gotoh, Gotoh…"
Slightly disoriented, Haru started searching the neighborhood for Gotoh's nameplate.
Since Bocchi had transferred to Haneoka to start a fresh new high school life, her home was actually really far from the school. Haru, who rarely came to this residential area, wasn't familiar with the roads at all.
"…Hm?"
Just as he was still scanning for the nameplate, Haru suddenly spotted a house with a huge banner over the gate.
It read: "Kessoku Band" in big bold letters.
Despite the oppressive summer heat blurring his vision, a strange chill suddenly ran down his spine.
Cold, shaking, confused, and the rest? Forgotten.
He vaguely remembered Nijika saying Bocchi's house was "easy to find,"
but he hadn't expected… this kind of easy to find.
Kazami Haru hesitated for a moment before raising his hand to knock.
And before he could even pull his hand back, the Gotoh family's door creaked open.
A pink-haired little head peeked out from behind the security door.
Big round watery blue eyes stared up at him curiously.
And then, as recognition dawned, her face lit up in joy.
"Big bro!"
"So it's Futari, huh~ Your sister's home, right?"
Haru smiled warmly and bent down so his gaze would be level with Gotoh Futari's.
Last time they met, this tiny Bocchi had gotten lost and ended up running into him on the way to STARRY.
Since he had no way to contact Hitori at the time, he'd ended up reaching out through Guitar Hero to help return her home.
"Sis and the other big sisters are upstairs playing!"
Though she shared a similar appearance to Bocchi, Gotoh Futari was the complete opposite in personality from bubbly, cheerful, and brimming with energy.
Despite not having seen Haru in ages, she acted as if they were best friends, even launching into a super-familiar hug straight off the bat.
"Big bro, are you marrying into our family soon?"
Futari blinked up at him, excitement dancing in her bright eyes.
There were actual stars sparkling in those round pupils.
Her innocent, childish words left Haru utterly speechless.
That was… impossible to respond to on so many levels.
"Futari-chan, why would you ask something like that?"
"Because Sis—"
She didn't get to finish.
A blur of pink shot over at the speed of sound and slapped a hand over Futari's mouth.
Hitori Gotoh had arrived, disheveled, flustered, and breathing erratically.
Her waist-length cherry blossom hair was a total mess.
"Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Haru-san! W-Welcome…!"
Her voice came out in broken clips, like a VCR on its last legs.
Still in her pink tracksuit, Bocchi stood ramrod straight, trembling, her bright blue eyes flickering in panic.
Every time she tried to make eye contact, she immediately looked away.
Her snow-white cheeks were slick with nervous sweat.
That was close!
Futari almost spilled everything!
As the elder sister, Hitori naturally wanted to seem cool in front of her little sibling.
Ever since Futari had met Haru, she'd been asking non-stop about their relationship.
Backed into a corner, Bocchi had… improvised.
She exaggerated how amazing Haru was, calling him a genius and a heartthrob,
then made up lies like, "he's actually trying to woo me…"
With Futari looking at her with such admiration, Hitori had lost herself in the moment and kept going.
It had felt great at the time…
But now that the real Haru was standing here, she was about to implode from anxiety.
If he ever found out about her delusions, her entire life would be over!
That's it.
She just had to cover it up with sheer volume!
Bocchi's mode: FULL PANIC, NEVER GIVE UP
"Hitori, is everyone else here?"
Haru, noticing her dazed expression, gently waved a hand in front of her face.
Pulled out of her mental spiral by his voice, Bocchi jolted, her body moving with rigid, mechanical motions like a rusty robot.
"R-R-R-Ryo-san's not here yet…
A-Anyway, please come inside, Haru-san!"
Something was off.
Haru gave her a strange look, Bocchi was definitely acting weirder than usual.
Probably because she hadn't hung out with anyone outside her family for nearly half the summer.
She might have regressed socially to the point of losing her basic dialogue systems.
"Thanks, I'll come in."
With a slightly amused smile, Haru handed her the gift bag and stepped inside, heading upstairs.
Behind him, Bocchi kept staring intently at his back until he disappeared.
Only after he was completely gone did she slump against the wall, exhaling heavily like she'd just survived a natural disaster.
But it's not over yet!
"Futari!"
Still covering her sister's mouth, Bocchi turned sharply, her forehead now soaked in nervous sweat.
Her voice was dead serious:
"Big sis is having a VERY important band meeting now, okay?"
"So PLEASE don't come upstairs and interrupt, especially not with anything about Haru!"
Futari tilted her head innocently. Then, she smiled like an angel.
"Nope~"
…
"Haru-san!"
"Come sit over here~ We're only waiting on Ryo-senpai now!"
"She's not here yet? I thought I'd be the last one to arrive…"
Haru had barely stepped through the door when Kita Ikuyo beamed at him brightly.
They'd just had McDonald's together a few days ago, but Kita still didn't think that counted for much.
Unless it was a full-on "date," she wasn't satisfied.
So the moment he walked in, she eagerly patted the seat next to her.
No hesitation necessary.
Haru immediately sat down, right between Kita Ikuyo and Nijika Ijichi.
But no sooner had he settled in than Nijika's demeanor changed completely.
Just moments ago, she was chatting and relaxed. Now, she was stiff and quiet, her ears flushed with pink.
It's all Nee-san's fault!
Why did she have to go and say all those extra things?
Now Nijika had no idea how to even talk to Haru without blushing!
Sitting beside her, Haru picked up on the change instantly.
"…Nijika, are you okay?" he asked softly, confused.
"Eh? Oh, it's nothing…"
"I was just thinking about the Live~"
Caught off guard, Nijika's eyes flickered with a trace of panic.
She quickly masked her flustered feelings behind her usual smile and responded softly.
But as she spoke about the Live, she couldn't help glancing at Haru's face.
Her already restless heart skipped a beat, and a gentle wave of worry washed over her.
Kita had mentioned earlier that Haru had fallen ill while preparing for Tomori's band.
Now, with less than two weeks until the Summer Fireworks Festival,
all the training and composing that needed to be done would surely put even more strain on him.
Was it really a good idea to do a Live now, of all times?
"You don't need to worry about that, Nijika," Haru said gently.
"Even though we haven't performed recently, no one's been slacking off in training, right?"
"Of course I know that, but… you just finished the stuff with MyGo…"
She trailed off, but Haru already understood what she meant.
Her golden side ponytail glowed like sunlight, and those ruby-red eyes were filled with nothing but concern.
Seeing that delicate, sweet face with such gentle worry caused Haru's heart to skip a beat.
So Nijika's really worried about me…?
Even though he had prepared himself, directly facing her kindness now, he was struggling to keep it together.
At this close distance, he could clearly see Nijika's flawless white cheeks.
That energetic, petite body contrasted beautifully with the warmth and softness in her gaze.
Oh no.
Was his nose about to start bleeding?
"…Thanks, Nijika."
"But really, I'm okay. I wouldn't have agreed to do this Live if I wasn't sure I could handle it."
Haru, slightly dazed by the double impact of her cuteness and sincerity, had to mentally repeat Taki's cold glare and "You suck" mantra just to ground himself again.
"T-Then…"
Suddenly, Nijika spoke up again.
"I know you probably get tired sometimes, Haru. So if there's ever a time you need help… please feel free to come to me."
"If you ever need someone to talk to or anything, I'll always be here…"
Her soft brows were knit with earnestness, and a cherry blossom blush bloomed across her pretty cheeks.
Her moist, crimson eyes shimmered shyly beneath her lashes.
The moment she finished speaking, Nijika felt her whole body lose strength.
Even though Kita was right beside her, watching, she had still blurted it out.
Her hands rested awkwardly in her lap, fingers trembling slightly.
She had no idea what possessed her to say something so embarrassing.
But… strangely enough, she didn't regret it.
In fact, she felt relieved & happy she'd mustered the courage to say it aloud.
"Damn…"
Was that really 'anything'…?
The storm Haru had just calmed inside him was back with a vengeance.
He could barely sit still anymore.
"Geez! Haru, you're supposed to rely on me too!"
Kita suddenly puffed up her cheeks in mock irritation and playfully waved her little fists in the air.
"I'll give you the softest lap pillow ever! Come on, don't hold back!"
Her face was also tinged red with frustration. After all, she had been the first one to say,
"Please depend on me."
Even if Nijika had the natural advantage in sweetness and warmth,
Kita Ikuyo was determined not to lose her place as the most special girl in Haru's heart.
"No, wait—"
Haru, who had just been thankful for Kita snapping him out of that daze, suddenly froze again.
His ex-girlfriend's lap pillow?
Was this really happening?
And yeah… he was a little tempted.
Just as he was starting to seriously consider it, the room's door cracked open.
Gotoh Futari's little head popped through and under the watchful eyes of Haru and the two girls, two more heads peeked out as well.
Haru: …Huh?
"Mom, Dad! Look!"
"I told you Sis' friend was here, along with that big brother! I wasn't lying!"
Her cheerful voice rang through the room like a bell, instantly shattering the strange mood.
And then, a beautiful woman with the same pink hair and a gentle smile stepped into the room.
"You must be Kazami-kun, right?"
Gotoh Michiyo entered carrying a tray full of juice and snacks.
She looked Haru up and down curiously, and the more she stared, the more surprised she became.
What a handsome young man.
My daughter knows someone like this?
And not just knows, he's at our house?!
"Good afternoon, ma'am. Sir."
Kita and Nijika, ever polite, greeted them cheerfully and without hesitation.
Just seeing that was enough to bring tears to Michiyo's eyes.
Bocchi… really has friends now…
She turned to Haru again, face full of gratitude.
"You were the one who helped Futari when she got lost, right?
I've wanted to thank you properly for that, but every time I asked Hitori, she brushed it off.
I'm really sorry for not saying it sooner."
"Oh no, please don't worry about it. I just contacted Hitori and walked Futari home, it wasn't a big deal."
Just from appearances, it was obvious this was Bocchi's mom and dad.
But… their eyes.
They were way too enthusiastic.
Being stared at so intently made Haru feel a little uncomfortable.
Then Michiyo turned to her husband, the two silently exchanging glances.
And in the next moment, she smiled sweetly and said:
"Of course we have to thank you properly!"
"Since you're all friends of Hitori's, why don't you stay for dinner?
I'm thinking of making sushi and maybe some pizza too.
Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to eat."
Haru had fully intended to politely decline, but his brows twitched.
Looks like there was no escaping dinner now.
